Jacob Murphy's magic fires Newcastle to victory over Leicester

Wing wizards Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes lit up the King Power Stadium, with Murphy bagging a first-half brace and Barnes sealing the rout with a clinical finish.

Manager Eddie Howe couldn't hide his delight after the performance. "We're in a good place right now," he said post-match. "This was always going to be a tough test, but the lads started with real fire and put us in the driver's seat early.

"We've got confidence flowing, and we'll need every bit of it with the next three games looking brutal."

Murphy's double underlined his growing importance to the Magpies. "He's been brilliant all season," Howe added. "Jacob's work rate has always been top-notch, but now he's chipping in with goals. I'm chuffed he's getting the recognition he deserves."

The opener, a moment of pure quality, set the tone, and Howe praised its impact: "When you strike first like that, it shifts the whole game in your favour."

The victory lifted Newcastle to fifth in the Premier League standings, locking them on 53 points alongside Chelsea.

Reflecting on their season, Howe admitted there had been concerns after their recent cup success. "You worry about a dip after such a high," he said. "But the boys have answered the challenge superbly, they've gone again."

Looking ahead, Howe kept his focus sharp. "The top four means everything to us, but we can't get ahead of ourselves. Our job is simple: keep winning. The next week is massive, three tough fixtures that'll tell us a lot about where we'll finish. We're better off than before, but there's still plenty of graft ahead."

In a recent X update from the club's official account, Newcastle hailed Murphy as their "man of the moment," posting highlights of his brace with the caption: "Jacob's flying, two goals and three big points!"

Howe also took to X, saying, "Proud of the lads tonight. Onward and upward." The Magpies faithful will hope this form carries them through a defining stretch as the season heats up.